Building Resilience through Gratitude, Empathy and Mindfulness

Nazi Germany P.O.W survivor, Viktor Frankl, suggests in his text, A Man’s Search for Meaning’ that gratitude is “the last of the human freedoms – to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, and to choose one’s own way” (1985,P131).

“When we see that someone's hurt or in pain, it's our instinct as human beings to try to make things better. We want to fix, we want to give advice. But empathy isn't about fixing. It's the brave choice to be with someone in their darkness--not to race to turn on the light so we feel better.”- Brene Brown

“Mindfulness is simply being aware of what is happening right now without wishing it were different; enjoying the pleasant without holding on when it changes (which it will); being with the unpleasant without fearing it will always be this way (which it won’t).” ~James Baraz

As part of our school wide approach to improve our community’s mental health and wellbeing, we would like to invite the parents and carers to attend a webinar on 13^th March 6:30pm-7:30 pm run by The Resilience Project.  TRP is an evidence-based wellbeing program that is implemented in many schools throughout Victoria and its resources have proven to be helpful in improving one’s mood, affect, and outlook through implementing practices of gratitude, empathy and mindfulness.

This 60 min session is designed to empower parents to use GEM chats at home with their children. It will also help parents establish a common language and level of confidence in talking about how to improve one’s wellbeing, along with some practical strategies and activities they can participate in with their children, which should not only improve the level of resilience and coping for both parents and students but might even create positive family routines. Please refer to my last newsletter article on the importance of establishing routines for improved wellbeing.

Please see the attached flyer for further information and click on the link below to register for the webinar. If you miss the webinar, but are interested in accessing the content, I will have a recorded link that I can send you so that you can watch it at a time that is more convenient for you. Please don’t hesitate to contact me via e mail for the link.  The more parents and carers we can get taking this journey with us to improve wellbeing, the better the social emotional and academic outcomes will be for our children. 

I’d also like to take this opportunity to ask as many parents as possible to participate in a short survey I will be sending out soon, so that we can start gathering specific wellbeing data from the perspective of our parent stakeholders. This information is part of a series of surveys I’d like to conduct so that we can get a well-rounded perspective on our strengths, and address areas for improvement in the wellbeing space. Please keep an eye out for the parent and carer wellbeing survey.

TRP WEBINAR REGISTRATION LINK

Please click this link and follow the prompts to be sent the zoom link for TRP webinar

https://forms.theresilienceproject.com.au/single-event-confirmation/?event_id=418212

Please hold ctrl and click on the hyperlinks for a flyer or social media file about the webinar.

flyer and  social media file.

Leanne Greer

Mental Health and Wellbeing Leader

lgreer@stgtraralgon.catholic.edu.au